Watch The Sympathizer Podcast

Host Philip Nguyen wraps up the podcast with a jam-packed episode. He takes it back to the beginning with executive producer Niv Fichman and author Viet Thanh Nguyen to talk about the origin story of bringing the book to the small screen. Then, he sits down with actors Hoa Xuande, Duy Nguyen, and Fred Nguyen Khan -- aka the Captain, Man, and Bon! Philip also gets to hear the behind the scenes of their real friendship and a deep dive into the broad spectrum of Vietnamese diasporic experiences. Finally, Hoa Xuande with Robert Downey Jr. return to talk about how the final episode connects them -- father and son.

Host Philip Nguyen chats with Sympathizer star Sandra Oh and executive producer Susan Downey about the roles of women and representation in the show. Then, he welcomes actors Kieu Chinh and Toan Le about the many meta layers of this series -- Kieu herself is mentioned in the novel! To wrap, author Viet Thanh Nguyen and story editor Felicia King talk about the Congressman and his Cuban wife.

Host Philip Nguyen sits down with legend Ky Duyen, host of Paris by Night and a star of The Sympathizer, and her on-screen daughter Vy Le, alongside executive producer Niv Fichman, to talk about music and art imitating life. Then, director Marc Munden and co-showrunner Don McKellar get into putting action on the screen. Finally, author Viet Thanh Nguyen and episode screenwriter Maegan Houang discuss adaptation and the beautiful tensions of going page to screen.

Host Philip Nguyen talks costumes and production design with costume designer Danny Glicker and co-showrunner Don McKellar. Then, author Viet Thanh Nguyen joins Philip to discuss the depiction of the Vietnam war in literature, art, and Hollywood.

Host Philip Nguyen sits down with the embodiment of the four patriarchs - Robert Downey Jr. First, they're in conversation with Hoa Xuande to talk about all the ways they worked together and the Captain's dynamics with Claude, The Professor, The Congressman, and The Auteur. Then Robert Downey Jr. brings in renowned prosthetics designer Vincent Van Dyke to reveal the process how they made those different characters come to life. Finally author Viet Thanh Nguyen and co-showrunner Don McKellar join Philip to talk process.

Host Philip Nguyen gets into it with the Captain himself, Sympathizer star Hoa Xuande. They talk about leaning into opportunities, navigating multiple cultures as children of Vietnamese refugees, and what it was like for Hoa to be in nearly every scene of the show. Philip also sits down with executive producer Amanda Burrell to talk about casting the show and scouring the globe for talent such as Hoa. Finally, Philip is joined by author of The Sympathizer and friend of the pod Viet Thanh Nguyen to discuss how the episode matches up and diverges from the novel.

Host Philip Nguyen debriefs and decodes Episode 1 and then he talks to co-showrunners Don McKellar and Park Chan-wook. Don takes us through the process of adaptation and thinking about bringing this novel to the screen. Legendary director Park explains some of the ways that he subverts tropes, skewers pop culture, and respects an audience.